Ocean City Wins Key Procedural Victory in Offshore Wind Lawsuit

Judge dismisses US Wind's counterclaims, bolstering Ocean City's case against proposed wind farm project.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Ocean City, Maryland has claimed a "significant procedural victory" in its ongoing legal battle against a proposed offshore wind farm project off its coast. A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed a key counterclaim filed by the project's developer, US Wind, dealing a blow to the company's efforts to undermine Ocean City's case.

Why it matters

The ruling reinforces Ocean City's position that it has legitimate concerns about the potential impacts of the massive offshore wind turbines on the town's environment, tourism economy, and fishing industry. It also signals a potential shift in the legal momentum, which had previously favored pro-wind industry decisions in federal courts.

The details

The legal challenge centers on US Wind's proposal to build a 114-turbine wind farm 10.7 miles off the coast of Ocean City. The town and several co-plaintiffs, including other local governments and businesses, filed suit in 2024 against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management over its approval of the project. In a February 2026 decision, a U.S. District Court judge granted a motion to dismiss US Wind's counterclaim in its entirety, a move that Ocean City officials described as a "significant procedural victory." The judge did not rule on the underlying merits of the case, but the dismissal of US Wind's counterclaim is seen as a setback for the company's efforts to undermine Ocean City's legal arguments.

  • In October 2024, the Town of Ocean City and several co-plaintiffs filed suit against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
  • On February 13, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Stephanie Gallagher granted a motion to dismiss US Wind's counterclaim.

The players

Ocean City

The coastal town in Maryland that has filed a lawsuit challenging the proposed offshore wind farm project.

US Wind

The company proposing to build a 114-turbine wind farm 10.7 miles off the coast of Ocean City.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

The federal agency that approved the US Wind offshore wind project, which is being challenged by Ocean City in court.

Tom Maronick

An Ocean City attorney and member of the Stop Offshore Wind Coalition.

Rick Meehan

The mayor of Ocean City.

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What they’re saying

“We remain confident in the legality and validity of all permits issued for this project, and we are committed to bringing it to fruition. We do not comment on ongoing litigation.”

— Nancy Sopko, Vice President of External Affairs, US Wind (The Baltimore Sun)

“This is a significant procedural victory. The court did not rule on the underlying merits of the claims.”

— Rick Meehan, Mayor of Ocean City (Ocean City Statement)

“Protecting the economic vitality of our resort community and preserving the character of our coastline remain our highest priorities. We are encouraged by Friday's decision and will continue to pursue this matter through the appropriate legal channels.”

— Rick Meehan, Mayor of Ocean City (Ocean City Statement)

What’s next

The judge's decision means the case will now move forward, focusing on the underlying merits of Ocean City's claims against the offshore wind project. The legal battle is expected to continue into the summer.

The takeaway

This ruling represents a potential shift in the legal momentum surrounding offshore wind projects, which had previously seen pro-industry decisions in federal courts. Ocean City's victory in getting US Wind's counterclaim dismissed reinforces the town's position that it has legitimate concerns about the impacts of the proposed wind farm, and suggests the court may be more receptive to the town's arguments as the case progresses.